No criminal charges will be laid in the controversial Global Transportation Hub (GTH) land deal.
Details of the Saskatchewan RCMP investigation were released Wednesday afternoon.
RCMP Supt. Paul Saganski said there was not enough evidence to support charges.
“As the investigating police agency, our responsibility was to determine if any criminal wrongdoing took place, setting aside perception and publicity and focusing on the evidence,” said Saganski, who is a federal criminal operations officer.
“As such, the evidence did not support the laying of criminal charges. Therefore, the RCMP is no longer actively investigating this matter.”
WATCH BELOW: RCMP give explanation on decision to no longer investigate GTH land deal
The RCMP consulted with Manitoba Prosecution Services as part of the wide-ranging investigation launched in February 2016 into the handling of the government’s purchase of land near the GTH, west of Regina.
Before GTH bought 204 acres of land for $21 million in late 2013, it was bought and sold numerous times at escalating prices.
Provincial auditor Judy Ferguson told the Public Accounts Committee in November 2016 an audit did not “conclusively state that there was no conflict of interest, fraud or wrongdoing with respect to these land transactions related to GTH,” in confirming the RCMP investigation.
WATCH BELOW: RCMP no longer investigating Global Transportation land procurement
Police said the investigation was highly complex and multi-layered, one involving thousands of pages of documents and interviewing over 40 people.
Former premier Brad Wall said in September 2017 he had been questioned extensively by the RCMP over the land deal.
The Opposition NDP has repeatedly called for a conflict of interest investigation into Bill Boyd, who was the minister responsible for GTH at the time of the purchase. He has since retired from politics.
A source close to Boyd says he welcomed the investigation all along, and now feels vindicated.
Call for an inquiry
Throughout the investigation the NDP repeatedly called for a judicial inquiry into the GTH land deals. Regina-Rosemont MLA Trent Wotherspoon continued that call following the RCMP announcement.
“Millions of dollars have been wasted. Taxpayers have been ripped off, nuns have been ripped off. Government has been anything but forthright. In fact they’ve been dishonest along the way. Clearly it’s time for a judicial inquiry,” Wotherspoon said.
“On that front, we have the Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan, current deputy premier, that’s also shared that position.”
During his Saskatchewan Party leadership, now deputy premier Gordon Wyant promised a judicial inquiry into the GTH if victorious. That contest was won by Premier Scott Moe.
Minister Morgan said that based on the extent of the RCMP investigation, and previous auditor’s report, he sees no need for an inquiry.
“I can’t speak for what the candidates said earlier. What I can say is that the RCMP indicated this was a complex, methodical, thorough investigation,” Morgan said. “They had cooperation of everybody they sought information from.”
“They also indicated that they worked on this for 7,500 hours. So based on that I don’t see that there’s any need for a further inquiry into it.”
On continued calls for an inquiry, Morgan said there are some people they will never be able to satisfy.
Morgan also announced the province will look into divesting the GTH assets and management.
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